| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.63 |
| Liaison | Konrad Schlarbaum |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2024 |
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
IN-41: Textbook Affordability
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 0.50 |
Paul
Deniston Director of Retail Services Dining & Hospitality Services |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Does the institution host a peer-to-peer textbook exchange program, textbook lending library, or alternate textbook project?:
Yes
A brief description of the textbook exchange program, textbook lending library, or alternate textbook project:
1) OER Success: Our OER Success program run by the faculty resource center on campus educates faculty on open educational resources and trains and incentivizes faculty in using OER in their courses.
2) Library Course Reserves: Additionally, the Kraemer Family Library provides a number of textbooks available for free checkout, allowing multiple students to use the same materials without purchasing them.
3) Equitable Access Program (TAAP): TAAP provides students with all required course materials on or before the first day of class for a fixed rate based upon enrolled credit hours, regardless of the cost of the materials. This removes the inequity between classes or disciplines--no longer are students foregoing a career or not taking a class because those course materials are too expensive. TAAP is voluntary and students are provided with a tailored financial comparison of the TAAP program versus purchasing the individual materials, so that a financially responsible decision is made. Even students who opt-out may use the TAAP materials up until census, ensuring no student falls behind in coursework and contributing to student success.
2) Library Course Reserves: Additionally, the Kraemer Family Library provides a number of textbooks available for free checkout, allowing multiple students to use the same materials without purchasing them.
3) Equitable Access Program (TAAP): TAAP provides students with all required course materials on or before the first day of class for a fixed rate based upon enrolled credit hours, regardless of the cost of the materials. This removes the inequity between classes or disciplines--no longer are students foregoing a career or not taking a class because those course materials are too expensive. TAAP is voluntary and students are provided with a tailored financial comparison of the TAAP program versus purchasing the individual materials, so that a financially responsible decision is made. Even students who opt-out may use the TAAP materials up until census, ensuring no student falls behind in coursework and contributing to student success.
Does the institution provide incentives for academic staff that explicitly encourage the authorship, peer review, and/or adoption of open access textbooks?:
Yes
A brief description of the incentives to encourage the authorship, peer review, and/or adoption of open access textbooks:
Open Educational Resources (OER) SUCCESS Program
The OER initiative is an inclusive part of the OER SUCCESS program. Each section of the OER initiative is incorporated into one or more of the three levels or courses the OER SUCCESS program offers and includes:
Educator Adoption/Redesign
3 faculty members will earn the OER Remixer badge and a $1,000 stipend for adopting OER in their courses, engaging in course redesign, evaluating the effectiveness of their OER pilots, and sharing their evaluation results.
Adaptation and Creation
5 faculty members will earn the OER Redistributor badge plus a $2,240 stipend for adapting/creating OER, licensing the created OER, implementing the OER into a course, and evaluating its effectiveness.
Each OER adopter and creator is also asked to participate in a yearly panel discussion at either the UCCS Teaching & Learning Conference in January or in GIFT (Great Ideas for Teaching) Exchanges throughout the academic year to encourage others through their example.
The OER initiative is an inclusive part of the OER SUCCESS program. Each section of the OER initiative is incorporated into one or more of the three levels or courses the OER SUCCESS program offers and includes:
Educator Adoption/Redesign
3 faculty members will earn the OER Remixer badge and a $1,000 stipend for adopting OER in their courses, engaging in course redesign, evaluating the effectiveness of their OER pilots, and sharing their evaluation results.
Adaptation and Creation
5 faculty members will earn the OER Redistributor badge plus a $2,240 stipend for adapting/creating OER, licensing the created OER, implementing the OER into a course, and evaluating its effectiveness.
Each OER adopter and creator is also asked to participate in a yearly panel discussion at either the UCCS Teaching & Learning Conference in January or in GIFT (Great Ideas for Teaching) Exchanges throughout the academic year to encourage others through their example.
If yes to either of the above, provide:
Optional Fields
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
BENEFITS OF TAAP MEMBERSHIP
Equity for All: TAAP advocates for educational equity, guaranteeing universal access to required materials. Similar to tuition, TAAP membership ensures that all students, regardless of their chosen degree, incur the same charges for required materials.
Timely Material Access: Experience the convenience of having all course materials delivered or ready for pick-up on or before the first day of class, eliminating delays or uncertainties. *Dependent on faculty selection and availability.
Academic Enhancement: Improve academic performance with on-time, readily available course materials, potentially leading to early class engagement, higher grades, increased course completion, and higher graduation rates.
Financial Relief: Reduce costs and alleviate financial stressors often associated with course materials, making education more affordable.
No up-front costs: There are no out-of-pocket expenses for course materials. The TAAP membership charge is conveniently placed on your student account and not payable until billed by the Bursar. You can essentially “test drive” the program at no charge up until census.
Predictable costs: Easy to budget because it removes the uncertainty of how much textbooks will cost. Because it is based on your credit hours, you will always be able to calculate the cost upfront using your Personalized Value Sheet.
Price Transparency: Each semester, you are provided with a Personalized Value Sheet that compares your TAAP membership charge with the cost of the course materials at market rates. This provides you with data upon which you can make a fiscally responsible decision and consider these other benefits of TAAP membership.
Accurate Materials: Ensure you receive the correct edition, digital codes, and complete materials as required by the professor.
Personalized Convenience: Enjoy a personalized website experience showcasing all your registered courses and the required course materials, ensuring easy access to your learning resources.
Seamless Integration: Benefit from an integrated system that seamlessly connects digital materials through Canvas, enhancing your ability to access and reference course content. Dedicated Support: Rely on our Learner Experience team, available year-round, 24/7 support during the back-to-school season to assist you whenever needed.
Simplified Learning: TAAP reduces complexities and confusion by streamlining access to course materials, helping you focus on your studies.
What TAAP is NOT:
Mandatory: Participation in TAAP is entirely optional. You are encouraged to review your Personalized Value Sheet sheet to weigh the financial aspect of TAAP. If the membership benefits do not benefit you as a student, you can TAAP out. *Note: you are automatically enrolled in TAAP each semester with the option to TAAP out through your portal.
Partnership Benefits:
Students: Receive all course materials by the first day of class at an affordable price. No special action, knowledge, or at-hand funds are needed.
Faculty: Complete academic freedom to select course materials (including OER). Access to an easy-to-use adoption tool. Start teaching class with all students prepared.
Administrators: Better retention rates and more affordable cost of education. Access to adoption cost insights to recommend lower-cost materials.
Campus Store: More accurately predict and source texts, taking on less risk. Buys and ships in bulk to lower the cost per unit. Benefits from aggregate purchasing and can leverage that to negotiate costs.
Publishers: Predictable and guaranteed quantities based on bookstore ordering to cap. Earlier and fixed adoption deadlines provide longer lead time to print and supply.
Equity for All: TAAP advocates for educational equity, guaranteeing universal access to required materials. Similar to tuition, TAAP membership ensures that all students, regardless of their chosen degree, incur the same charges for required materials.
Timely Material Access: Experience the convenience of having all course materials delivered or ready for pick-up on or before the first day of class, eliminating delays or uncertainties. *Dependent on faculty selection and availability.
Academic Enhancement: Improve academic performance with on-time, readily available course materials, potentially leading to early class engagement, higher grades, increased course completion, and higher graduation rates.
Financial Relief: Reduce costs and alleviate financial stressors often associated with course materials, making education more affordable.
No up-front costs: There are no out-of-pocket expenses for course materials. The TAAP membership charge is conveniently placed on your student account and not payable until billed by the Bursar. You can essentially “test drive” the program at no charge up until census.
Predictable costs: Easy to budget because it removes the uncertainty of how much textbooks will cost. Because it is based on your credit hours, you will always be able to calculate the cost upfront using your Personalized Value Sheet.
Price Transparency: Each semester, you are provided with a Personalized Value Sheet that compares your TAAP membership charge with the cost of the course materials at market rates. This provides you with data upon which you can make a fiscally responsible decision and consider these other benefits of TAAP membership.
Accurate Materials: Ensure you receive the correct edition, digital codes, and complete materials as required by the professor.
Personalized Convenience: Enjoy a personalized website experience showcasing all your registered courses and the required course materials, ensuring easy access to your learning resources.
Seamless Integration: Benefit from an integrated system that seamlessly connects digital materials through Canvas, enhancing your ability to access and reference course content. Dedicated Support: Rely on our Learner Experience team, available year-round, 24/7 support during the back-to-school season to assist you whenever needed.
Simplified Learning: TAAP reduces complexities and confusion by streamlining access to course materials, helping you focus on your studies.
What TAAP is NOT:
Mandatory: Participation in TAAP is entirely optional. You are encouraged to review your Personalized Value Sheet sheet to weigh the financial aspect of TAAP. If the membership benefits do not benefit you as a student, you can TAAP out. *Note: you are automatically enrolled in TAAP each semester with the option to TAAP out through your portal.
Partnership Benefits:
Students: Receive all course materials by the first day of class at an affordable price. No special action, knowledge, or at-hand funds are needed.
Faculty: Complete academic freedom to select course materials (including OER). Access to an easy-to-use adoption tool. Start teaching class with all students prepared.
Administrators: Better retention rates and more affordable cost of education. Access to adoption cost insights to recommend lower-cost materials.
Campus Store: More accurately predict and source texts, taking on less risk. Buys and ships in bulk to lower the cost per unit. Benefits from aggregate purchasing and can leverage that to negotiate costs.
Publishers: Predictable and guaranteed quantities based on bookstore ordering to cap. Earlier and fixed adoption deadlines provide longer lead time to print and supply.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.